New slabs are different
Fresh concrete is still curing and drying, and its surface is often dense and smooth from troweling. Both facts affect a coating.
A beautiful new slab is not automatically ready.
Patience pays off. Many Nashville homeowners with a new build ask us first about timing, and the honest answer is that tests, not the calendar, decide.
How long to wait
New slabs usually need several weeks to cure before coating, and longer if the weather has been wet or the slab is thick. Tests show when the slab is ready.
We never guess.
Nashville builders often schedule coating near the end of a project.
Moisture testing
New concrete releases a lot of moisture early. Testing with more than one method shows whether it is safe to coat.
A moisture-mitigating primer may be recommended.
Test results go in writing. Nashville builders often pour garage slabs in wet seasons, which makes moisture testing even more important.
Why grind new concrete
Hard-troweled surfaces are dense and smooth, which is a poor surface for bonding. Grinding opens them.
Shrinkage cracks and joints are repaired at the same time.
A coating over unground concrete is a gamble.
Sealers and curing compounds
Some builders apply sealers or curing compounds that can block bonding. We test for them and remove them when needed.
Tell us what was used if you know.
Honest information avoids surprises.
Working with your builder
We coordinate with builders so the coating goes in when the garage is clean, dry and out of the way of other trades.
Drywall dust and paint can ruin a fresh coating.
A clear schedule helps everyone.
Let new concrete cure, test it for moisture and grind it before you coat.
